Sunday, March 17, 2019 - This past week there has been a substantial
increase in activity around the Sheraton Hamilton nest. More visits to
the scrape, moving rocks, preparing it for eggs. On Wednesday, the 13th,
a Falconwatch member was downtown, and observed Lily and Ossie mating on
top of the Standard Life building, west of the Sheraton. Without doubt we
are going to be seeing some eggs very soon. Keep your eyes on that nest.

WINTERING WELL....

Friday, February 22, 2019 - Our winter weather continues to see-saw,
and, with each upswing in temperature, the Peregrines are seen visiting
the nest ledge on the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel. Ossie is once again
courting his mate, Lily, bringing her meals. You can see her swooping in
to collect one in the photo at left.

Based on their behavior in previous years, as the weather becomes
consistently warmer, we should see the pair inspect and prepare the
scrape in the gravel for this year's eggs, which we hope to see sometime
in the last half of March.

BACKGROUND FOR 2019....

Hamilton's resident adult pair, Lily and Ossie, are celebrating
the fourth anniversary of their arrival in Hamilton, and will begin
their fifth nesting season on the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel very soon.

Lily was banded in 2010 at the Grand Haven Board of Light & Power
plant, in Michigan, and Ossie fledged from the Osler Hospital in
Etobicoke in 2012.

In 2018, the pair hatched four chicks. Three of them fledged
successfully, learning to fly and hunt, and left Hamilton at the end of
the summer. The fourth chick did not fly as strongly, and came to ground
on our busy city streets, where, sadly, it was struck by a car and
killed. It seemed like this particular bird was weaker than the others,
and quite possibly would have not survived long in the wild. But this
occurrence highlights the extra dangers for Peregrines fledging in an urban
environment, and the need for our Falcon Watch. We need lots of volunteers
to help us with the on-street watch during the critical period when
chicks are making their first flights. Perhaps you will join us this year?

Many bird species exhibit a trait called 'site fidelity'. If at least
one of a pair that used a nest site in the previous year returns, and if
there have been no significant physical changes to disturb either the
nest itself or the birds generally, they will use the same nest site
year after year. Peregrine Falcons are known for site fidelity. This
will be the twenty-fifth year the same nest site on the Sheraton
Hamilton Hotel has been used.

To read FalconWatch Reports from previous years, click on the
History button above.

Thank you to all our visitors and supporters for your ongoing
encouragement.

DONATIONS WELCOME - If you have not already made a donation to Falconwatch, it is never too late to do so. The Coordinators' daily reports, the camera images, on-street Falconwatch equipment and display window electronics are all made possible by YOUR contributions. Falconwatch does not cost a lot, but grants do not cover all our expenses, and there are bills to be paid. Please click on the yellow 'DONATE button above to learn more about how the money is used and how to make a tax creditable donation by cheque or on-line. We and the birds Thank You!